THE

FOUNDING
FATHERS
OF CELL
THEORY
GROUP 1
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MAX SCHULTZE
25 MARCH 1825 -
16 JANUARY 1874
He defined the cell as
a mass of protoplasm
with a nucleus (1861)
and recognized
protoplasm, with its
nucleus, as a
fundamental
substance found in
both plants and
animals. 2
THEODORE
SCHWANN
7 DECEMBER 1810 -
11 JANUARY 1882

He demonstrated the
fact for animal
tissues that they are
composed of cells,
and in 1839 he
concluded that all
tissues are made up
of cells. 3
ANTON VAN
LEEUWENHOEK
24 OCTOBER 1632 -
26 AUGUST 1723
He discovered
protozoa, the single-
celled organisms
and called them
animalcules. He also
improved the
microscope and laid
foundation for
microbiology.  4
JAMES WATSON
BORN: 6 APRIL 1928
He is a part of the
team who
contributed to one
of the most
important biological
discoveries of all
time, the structure
of the DNA
molecule.

5
FELIX DUJARDIN
5 APRIL 1801 –
8 APRIL 1860
he proposed the
classification of a new
type of single-celled
organism which he
called rhizopoda and
known for his studies
in the classification of
protozoans and
invertebrates.
6
FRANCIS CRICK
8 JUNE 1916 -
28 JULY 2004
The DNA molecule is
shaped like a twisted
ladder. James Watson
and Francis Crick
solved the structure of
DNA. Other scientists,
like Rosalind
Franklin and Maurice
Wilkins, also
contributed to this
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discovery.
HENRI DUTROCHET
14 NOV 1776 –
4 FEB 1847
He investigated and
described osmosis,
respiration,
embryology, and the
effect of light on plants.
He has been given
credit for discovering
cell biology and cells in
plants and the actual
discovery of the process
of osmosis. 8
ROBERT BROWN
21 DEC 1773 –
10 JUNE 1858
He discovered and named
the nucleus, which is the
brain of the cell that
contains DNA and directs
everything that takes place
in the cell. His discovery of
the nucleus and its role
helped to prove the cell
theory - 'All living
organisms are composed
of cells and cells come
from pre-existing cells'. 9
LAZZARO
SPALLANZANI
21 JAN 1729 –
12 FEB 1799
He did an extensive
research on the
reproduction of animals,
and definitively disproved
the theory of spontaneous
generation (1768). In 1779
he discovered the workings
of animal reproduction,
which requires semen
(carrying spermatazoa)
and an ovum. 1
0
LOUIS PASTEUR
27 DEC 1822 -
28 SEPT 1895
Found microorganisms
were causing fermentation
and diseases. From this he
later experimented with
boiling beef broth and
showed the one that was
exposed and the one that
wasn't. The one that was
exposed to air was shown
as microbial contamination.
This disproved
spontaneous generation. 1
1
JEAN BAPTISTE
PIERRE ANTOINE
DE MONET
1 AUG 1744 – 18
DEC 1829
He proposed the first
formal theory of
evolution. He advanced
the theory that
evolutionary change may
occur by the inheritance
of characteristics acquired
during the lifetime of the
individual. 1
2
MATTHIAS
SCHLEIDEN
5 APRIL 1804 – 23
JUNE 1881
He showed that the
development of all
vegetable tissues
comes from the
activity of cells He
declared that the cell
is the basic building
block of all plant
matter. 1
3
FRANCESCO REDI
18 FEB 1626 – 1
MAR 1697

He demonstrated that
the presence of
maggots in putrefying
meat does not result
from spontaneous
generation but from
eggs laid on the meat
by flies.

1
4
JOHANNES
PURKINJI
17 DEC 1787 – 28
JULY 1869
He proposed the first
formal theory of
evolution. He advanced
the theory that
evolutionary change
may occur by the
inheritance of
characteristics acquired
during the lifetime of
1
the individual. 5
RUDOLF VIRCHOW
13 OCT 1821 – 5
SEPT 1902
" all cells arise from cells".
This means cells
reproduce by cells. He also
hypothesized that cells
divide to form new cells.
He also proposed that
every cell came from a cell
that already existed. His
observations and
conclusions and those of
others are summarized in
the cell theory. 1
6
ROBERT HOOKE
28 JULY 1635 –
3 MARCH 1703
He discovered a
honeycomb-like
structure in a cork slice
using a primitive
compound microscope.
He only saw cell walls as
this was dead tissue. He
coined the term "cell" for
these individual
compartments he saw.
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